graveney - time's not on our side
Graveney - 'We haven't played to our capabilities.'
By Myles Hodgson, PA Sport Cricket Correspondent, Barbados
England are facing tough decisions in the aftermath of Duncan Fletcher's resignation as head coach as they begin planning next month's Test series against West Indies without him.
The opening Test of that four-match series starts at Lord's on May 17 and Fletcher would normally have begun planning when and where the centrally-contracted players would play in the build-up to the start of the international summer.
But with Fletcher due to step down after Saturday's final match of the World Cup against West Indies, England's hierarchy have to decide who will make those decisions before they appoint either a temporary or permanent replacement.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney confirmed: "This is obviously an interim period of time and there are logistical areas about player availability we will have to address because there are only three weeks before the first Test.
"Their availability will have to be addressed because that was obviously Duncan's responsibility and we're going to have to work out who makes those decisions."
England are due to fly home to England on April 23 after seven weeks in the Caribbean and whoever is in charge will almost certainly want them to have some immediate rest prior to the Test series.
That would rule them out of the round of LV County Championship matches starting on April 25, leaving them a maximum of two championship rounds before the Test squad is chosen.
Academy Director Peter Moores is favourite to stand in initially, but temporary coaches do not have the best of records with England following a similar system in 1999.
Having appointed Fletcher as the successor to David Lloyd as England coach, he was unwilling to start until the end of the season as he still had commitments with Glamorgan and England turned to Graham Gooch to take charge for the remainder of the summer.
But Gooch's temporary appointment ended in a 2-1 Test series defeat to New Zealand which plunged England to the bottom of the then unofficial rankings with the crowd booing the team off the pitch after defeat in the final Test at the Oval and Graveney conceded: "Past evidence against New Zealand would suggest it doesn't work very well."
Graveney and Geoff Miller are now the only remaining selectors until they appoint a new coach and he admitted they would have a full debrief about their role in England's dismal World Cup display.
"We haven't played to our capabilities, we haven't batted well as a unit," he admitted.
"Certain partnerships have worked, we've bowled well at certain times and fielded well at certain times but we haven't as a team put it all together at the same time.
"I'm sure as selectors we'll have a sit down when the dust has settled and discuss the options we selected within the team and look at the way we've played - obviously the way we've played hasn't been good enough to progress."
He added: "I was unaware of his decision, but Duncan's an outstanding coach and he's done an outstanding job and it's sad when those things come to an end.
"We've had lots of success under him and you only have to speak to any the players who have been under him to learn about his coaching capabilities."



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